Hawaii's tourism numbers for 2011 are on the rise, according to several reports. The Seattle Times is reporting that the state saw nearly 7.3 million visitors in 2011, which is well below 2006 numbers, but certainly better than during the worst of the recession.
Tourism statistics released January 30 showed that the state's visitor count last year was up almost 4 percent over 2010. Better yet, vacationers spent $12.58 billion in 2011, a 15.6 percent increase over 2010 and the second-highest total in state history.
Pacific Business News, meanwhile, is reporting that Hawaii’s luxury and upscale hotels saw double-digit increases in average daily rates and revenue per available room, according to a year-end report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research.
Hotels statewide saw 73.4 percent occupancy last year, 2.7 percentage points higher than 2010, while the average daily room rate rose 8.5 percent to $189.62. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 12.6 percent to $139.18.
Hotel revenue for the year rose to $2.87 billion, a 12.9 percent increase from $2.54 billion in 2010.
Oahu hotels had the highest occupancy in the state at 80.9 percent, and Waikiki, Hawaii’s largest tourism market, was 82 percent full.
Luxury properties in Waikiki enjoyed the highest occupancy rate in the state last year at 82.8 percent, and saw RevPAR increase by 13.5 percent to $185.35. Right below that was the “upscale” category, which had an occupancy rate of 80.4 percent for 2011, and saw RevPAR increase by 14 percent to $116.99.
Maui’s luxury hotels were 70.9 percent occupied in 2011, which was 3.3 percentage points higher than 2010, while the upscale category had an occupancy rate of 71.3 percent, the highest for the island. RevPAR for the luxury category on Maui rose 12 percent to $247.46, while the upscale category saw a 10 percent increase to $149.39.
